2. Discussion regarding possible disbanding of Telecommunications Advisory CommitteeHolt: scheduled meeting with Joan Shannon to discuss role of Telecommunications Advisory Committee and he was going to update committee at the next BTAC meeting but learned that there might not be another committee meeting as the City Council is looking to dissolve the BTAC.

Parris: why?

Elek: didn’t want to put words in Joan’s mouth but essentially there is confidence in the Blue Ribbon Committee members and they are higher stakeholders in the BTV community. Parris: The purpose behind commissions is for citizen input, the City is bypassing citizen input through the disbanding of the BTAC. There was no input from the citizens which is how BT got to where they are now. The citizen input is essential to running an operation. Essentially the City Council is stating that the big guys with money count while the little guys don’t matter. Parris described the history of commissions and how they used to have more say in hiring and policy decisions. They also used to report to the Mayor. Parris said she did not know what the Mayor wants and what he thinks of this decision to disband the BTAC.

Holt: asked the committee members what they wanted to do: there are three options as he sees it.Try to stop the decision.Accept the decision.Accept the decision under protest.

Holt stated that this is not a political committee therefore he didn’t think option number 1 was good but suggested 2 or 3 and was leaning towards 3.

Elek: mentioned that with the BTAC dissolved the BRC would take over which meant that there are still City Councilors on the committee which are elected officials.

Parris: stated that nobody will want to volunteer for these types of committees.

Holt: mentioned that he did express frustration to Joan Shannon with the decision. Suggested members who want to may attend the City Council meeting on Monday and say something during public meeting but might want to formulate a single statement that someone reads.

Parris: is unable to attend Monday.

Holt: will draft something for the committee to review and whomever wants to sign off on the letter may do so.

Elek stated that he would be available to read the letter on Monday but Holt thinks that his schedule is free so he will likely be the one reading it.